CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – Dale Spence will search for his first championship victory and Im A Miracle could deliver it in the Maritime Breeder's harness racing final Saturday evening at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
The 12-dash Saturday program kicks off at 6 P.M. with the Ken Starratt Memorial Maritime Breeder's final for three-year-old pacing fillies hitting the track in race 8 for a $22,375 purse. Im A Miracle delivered a neck decision in 1:59.2 in her elimination and now draws post 3 with Spence in the bike for trainer Joe Baxter and owner Gary Cave of Halifax, N.S. Baxter has three entries in the eight-horse field as Therealdeal has drawn the rail with Walter Cheverie in the bike and other elimination winner Elm Grove Nellie has post 6 with Ryan Ellis in the sulky.
Notorious rides a two-race win streak into the race 10 Doug Harkness Memorial Maritime Breeder's final for three-year-old pacing colts. The Marc Campbell trained and driven son of Malicious captured his elimination last Saturday in 1:58.2 for owners Shirley Symes of Springhill, N.S., and Darryl and Gordon MacLean of Winsloe. A Grand Terror drew post 3 after winning his elimination and Corey MacPherson will pick up the catch drive after trainer Gilles Barrieau elected to drive stablemate Red Dirt Boomer from post 8.
Bugsy Maguire makes his Island debut in the race 11 Preferred pace carrying a $3,100 purse. Now owned by Walter Simmons of Summerside and trained by Wade Sorrie, Bugsy Maguire was racing the $40,000 claiming ranks at Yonkers Raceway for trainer Matias Ruiz. Barrieau will drive the 19 time winner from post 3.
Race 4 will see At The Helm in his East Coast unveiling as the Melissa Rennie trainee has drawn post 3 with Adam Merner in the bike for owners Wade and Kyla MacDonald, Brad MacPherson and Kent Livingston.
Race 9 will be the weekly Drive For Home Series race presented by Hillside Chevrolet Buick GMC Cadillac. Zero Rate is listed as the morning line choice from post 5 with Kenny Arsenault in the bike for trainer Michael Gallant.
Clare MacDonald, Canada's most successful female driver, will be special guest on the Inside Track Saturday with host Kurt Hughes. The segment airs at 5:35pm on the Red Shores broadcast.
Catch the action live at the track or tune into the worldwide broadcast at www.Redshores.ca.
Top Mares Invade Summerside
The rail and an impeccable record is what Sodwana Bay will bring to the table Sunday afternoon in the first leg of the Atlantic Aged Pacing Mares Series at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway.
The six-year-old daughter of No Pan Intended will go off as the one to beat from post 1 in race 7 on the Sunday afternoon program for a $3,920 purse. The afternoon card kicks off at 1 P.M. with 12-dashes on tap.
Gilles Barrieau trains and drives Sodwana Bay for owners Wayne MacRae of Fall River, N.S., and Howmac Farms of North Wiltshire. The mare has had two wins and two seconds from four starts this season and will have seven contenders as the looks to add to those totals. Ramblinglily is second choice from post 4 with Ken Murphy above the wheels and Prettyndangerous is pegged for third with David Dowling at the lines.
Woodmere Finesse made her return to P.E.I. a winning one last week and will have the respect of the morning line odds from post 2 in the other $3,920 Atlantic Aged Pacing Mares leg. Dale Spence is in the bike for trainer Jeff Lilley and owner Ed Maher of Lower Sackville, N.S., fresh off a 1:56.3 victory. Other top entries include Collective Wisdom (Driven by Barrieau) and Jordies Hope (Dowling).
Rookie driver Kyle Mason will make his pari-mutuel debut on the Sunday program driving for the Ultimate Stable of Greater Lakeburn, N.B. Mason will steer Ultimate Flyingnun from post 4 in race 10 and Ultimatelyhandsome from post 7 in the race 12-finale.
Ramset is a new addition to Island racing and will leave from post 6 in race 4 for a $1,900 purse. Jason Hughes is listed to drive the 1:57.1 winner for trainer Elton Millar and new owners Ryan and Everett MacLeod of Souris.
Medici Hanover will make her Island debut in race 3 with rail control for trainer Donald Milligan and owners Kent and Andrew Williams and Lyndon Hardy. Hughes will drive the three-year-old daughter of Sportswriter who has been racing the Woodbine circuit in Ontario.
Ken Murphy will be special guest on the Inside Track Sunday with host Rocky Schurman. The segment airs at 12:35 pm on the Red Shores broadcast.
For race programs and more go to www.Redshores.ca.
By Nicholas Oakes For Red Shores